Knitting machine



M. ZIMIC E'I'AL July 7, 1953 KNITTING MACHINE Filed Dc. 28, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 7,1953 me mL y 2,644,323

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 28, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 M.'zlM|c ErAL KNITTING MACHINE July 7, 1953 Fild Dec. 2,8, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 E TO/V MAS NWN QN www www* I. *QN

July 7, 1953-1 Mlm: mL A V2,644,32?,

KNITTING mamma Filed nec. 2a, 1949 v sheets-shed 5 INVENTORS v M/cf/AEL z/M/C ANTON MAS/(016K) ATTORNEY ,filed Dec. 28, 1949 July '1, 1353 M. mc Em. 2,344,323

' KNITTING MACHINE I 7 Sheets-Shea# 6 A; ORNEY July 7, 1v953 M. zlMlc Erm. 2,644,323

` KNITTING MACHINE Filed De. 28. 1949 'T'Sheletsf'Sheet '7 Patented July 7, 1953 dans KNITTING MACHINE Michael Zimio, Lake Success, and Anton Miskovsky, Deer Park, N. Y.; said Miskovsky assignor to said Zimio Application December 28, 1949, Serial No. 135,393

9 Claims.

The present invention relates primarily to knitting machines of the type employing needle jacks and shiftable needles, and, more particularly, to novel knitting apparatus including needle shifting and machine control apparatus which removes limitations in operation of prior knitting machines.

In accordance with theinvention, there is provided a novel system of locks or cams for a knitting machine carriage, these locks or cams being capable of cooperating with special needle jacks. The special needle jacks are comprised Within the system of this invention along with novel control and selecting means for the locks or cams. Certain of the locks or cams on the machine carriage are, in accordance with the invention, positioned at one or more levels in operation of the knitting machine upon which the carriage operates. The level selecting mechanism for these cams is an important feature of the present invention.

Accordingly, the principal object of the present invention is to provide a knitting machine of the type having longitudinally shiitable needles which embodies novel means formoving and positioning the needles.

Another object is to provide a novel lock or cam mechanism for a knitting machine carriage.

A further object is to provide a novel lock or cam controlling mechanism. A closely related object is to provide novel selecting means for the cam controlling mechanism. y

A still further object is to provide a novel jack for use in a knitting machine, the novel jack being provided with lock or cam engaging means which cooperate selectively with the lock or cam mechanism of the machine; In carrying out the invention in the illustrative embodiment, the jack of this invention is provided with long and short butts.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will, of course, become apparent and immediately suggest themselves to those skilled in the art to which this invention is directed from a reading of the following specification in connection With the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in plan of the right-hand portion of a machine embodying the present inven= tion in a preferred form; l

Fig. 2 is an enlarged top plan View of the car-f riage which is shown at the left of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical elevation view partly in section of the machine of Fig. 1 as seen from the plane 3-3 on Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view in plan 2 and partly in section of the carriage shown at the left of Fig. 1, the section being taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 4; k

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional lView taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 4;

Figs. 7 to 9 are views similar to Fig. 6 of different modes of operation of the mechanism;

Fig. 10is a schematic plan View of the stitch locks or cams on the carriage, the latter being shown in detail by Figs. 2, 3 and 4;

Figs. 11 through 14 are schematic fragmentary vertical sectional views taken on the successive lines in Fig. 10 designated by numbers corresponding with these gure numbers and show operation of the mechanism Ato form plain stitches;

Figs. V15, 16 and 17 are similar to Figs. 11 through 14 and illustrate the transfer jack operation;

Figs. 18 and 13a are schematic fragmentary vertical sectional views taken on line iitof Fig. 10; and

Figs. 19 and 19.0/l are schematic fragmentary vertical sectional views taken on line i9 of Fig. 10.

The general organization of 'the illustrative embodiment of the invention, shown by the accompanying drawing, will be discussed prior to giving a more detailed description of the components of its mechanism. It is believed that in this way a better understanding of the entire mechanism, more especially with respect to its operation in accordance with the invention, will be obtained. vAlso novel knitting methods. which are included in the invention as one of its aspects,

vwill be pointed out.

Fig.l 1 shows a single knitting unit complete with its control mechanism. vGroups of needles in the unit perform the knitting operation as will be explained and these needles are actuated byk controllable cams carried by the carriage designated generally by reference character 50. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the carriage may be duplicated and controlled by extensions of the mechanism to be described. For the sake of convenience of illustration and description, only one carriage 5) is shown. The knitting unit Which comprises the entire machine, as shown in Fig. 1 has a front needle bed 2S and a rear needle bed I9 (Fig. 3). One of the needle beds, for example the front needle bed, is movable longitudinally of the machine.

In the machine lshown by the Way of example, needles 33 are controlled in the iront and rear beds 29 and I9 to form stitches through the medium of a lock or cam mechanism supported by carriage 5t which reciprocates over the needle beds. The carriage 50 in reciprocating over the needle beds controls needle jacks 34 and 35 associated with the various needles to accomplish the regular knitting operations. .Auxiliary jacks are also controlled.

For the sake of convenience of description, it will be assumed that operation is initiated with the carriage at its left hand position with rem spect to the needle beds, as seen from the machine front. In Fig. 1, the machine is designated in its entirety by reference character 2!) and comprises a base or frame 2! upon which is supported the knitting unit composed principally of the needle beds.

As seen in Fig. 3, there are stationary frame beds 2l and 28. The front needle bed 29 is slidably mounted on the front stationary frame bed 2l for movement longitudinally of the machine 25. The bar 3E) (Fig. 3) provides for movement of the needle bed 29. Shifting of the bar 3i) to produce the desired type of stitches isY accomplished in a well-known manner heretofore used on links and links machines of the type selected as the illustrative embodiment.

The front and rear needle beds are provided with a plurality of grooves 3i and 32 within which are located the needles 33, as well as the front and rear auxiliary jacks 34, 35 and 35, respectively (Fig. 3). In accordance with the present invention modified jacks are provided with long and short butts to provide for novel stitching operations. is shown in Figs. 6 to 9 and Figs. 18, 18a, 19, and 19a. These special jacks will be described more in detail hereinafter. Obviously, the number of the grooves 3| and 32 will depend upon the width and gauge of the fabric and thesize of the machine. It may be noted here, however, that the carriage in its operational cycles makes a complete traverse of the needle beds so that knitting may be carried on for the full width of the capacity of the machine. Where narrower fabrics are desired, the yarn controls feed the yarn for a lesser width.

The front jacks 34 are provided with butts 3l and 38, and the rear jacks 35 have corresponding butts 39 and 45. 15, 16 and 17) have single butts 5l. These butts co-act wtih cams on the carriage in a manner to be explained.

Disposed at the front and rear portions of the machine and supported above the beds 21 and 2S are the front and rear rails 42 and 43 (Fig. 2). The cross-sectional configuration of these rails is seen in Fig. 3 and they serve as tracks along which the main carriage rides.

As seen in Figs. 2 and 3, the carriage 5G has front and rear assemblies indicated generally by reference characters 53 and 54. The assemblies 53 and 54 are connected by an arched bridge 55. The bridge 55 supports the yarn control 5S. The front and rear assemblies 53 and 54 are built about the front and rear carriage plates 5l and 53. The front and rear base portions of the bridge 55 are secured to the upper surfaces of the plates 57 and 58 in any suitable manner, as by bolting.

The front and rear plates 5l and 58 are provided with a plurality of horizontally journalled rollers 59 and a plurality of vertically journalled rollers 55. The rollers 59 and 50 are adjustable so that the carriage 50 may follow a substantially This feature of the invention The auxiliary jacks 35 (Figs.

rectilinear oscillatory course. A plurality of latches 5l are shiftable inwardly and outwardly of the carriage to engage correspondingly posin tioned grooves in the rails 42 and 43. When in their extended position, these latches maintain the carriage in positive slidable engagement with the rails. When the latches 6l are retracted, they permit the vertical upward removal of the carriage from the rails.

Secured to the under-surface of the plates 5l and 58 by suitable means are the stitch cam supporting plates 54 and $5. The cams which co-act with the butts 3l to 4I are seen in Fig. 10 in which the cams which depend from the front plate 64 are seen at the left of said gure and the cams which depend from the rear plate 65 are seen at the right of said figure. The arrangement of the stitch cams is such that when the carriage 55 is moved to the right as the machine is faced from the front the cams would move downwardly as illustrated on Fig. 10.

Assuming the carirage to be moving downwardly as last described, and the particular jacks 3d and 35 to be at the position indicated by the plane Il on Fig. 10, the'butt 3l has previously been moved by the switch or gate cam 'lil while the butt 40 is being moved by the switch or gate cam ll. These cams at thatV time are in their fully lowered or active position for cooperation with butts 3l' and 45 which appear in Fig. 1l.

The effect of the cams 'Ill and 'il and the movement of the carriage is to move the jacks 34 and 35 toward each other. The cam 8| and the cam 'il cooperate with the butts 3l and 3S to bring the jack 54 to the position of Fig. 11. The cam 'li is acting on the butt 4i).

Figs. 5 to 9 show in detail the mechanism in accordance with the present invention for oontrolling the vertical position of the cam il. The cams HG, "El, and ill are similarly controlled as seen by Fig. 4 which is a detail view of the cam height selecting mechanism. This Selecting mechanism includes the bar i25 for controlling the cams 'E5 and H5 and the bar 25@ for controlling the cams 'il and ill. Figs. 4 to 9 will be described more in detail, later. In the position shown by Figs. 11 and 12, the rear hook l2 of the needle 33 carries the last formed loop 'i3 and the rear hook latch i4 is closed in Fig. l1. The carriage continuing its downward (as viewed in Fig. 10) movement, maintains the butts 3l and 38 in the position of Fig. 11. The cam l5 moves the jack 35 by its butt t5 as seen in Fig. l2. rEhe jacks Sil and 35 are brought closer together and appear as shown in Fig. 12 at which position the tip i9 of the forward portion of the jack 35 opens and maintains open the latch l. The opening of the latch 'Nl makes way for the laying in of the yarn.

As the carriage proceeds downwardly (as viewed in Fig. 10) to the position of Fig. 13, the butt S8 is withdrawn by the cam 5i In the case of the rear jack 35, the butt 35 engages the straight portion 63 of the cam 8l. The butt 38 is engaged by the cam 8l at the portion 23, the jack 34 having been retracted (in this case, moved to the left).v The rear jack 35 has been retracted so that the butt 39 now engages the cam portion 63, as stated. In this position of the needle and the jacks the yarn is laid in.

Continued movement of the carriage in the same direction brings the butt 38 into contact with the portion 9U of the stitch size cam Si, which is shiftable forwardly or rearwardly as further appears herein. The farther forward (or to the left as viewed in Fig. lo) the stitch cam 9i is moved, the longer will be the stitchin the finished material. At this time, the rear jack 35 is further retracted by the rear stitch size cam 92.' The completion'of the stitch occurs in the position indicated by Fig.` lll. From this position, the buttsV are passed by the vcarriage since the gate cams I'Iil and I'EI are up.

The cams BI and 8l and ISI and I8? are provided with slots 9d, S5', and S8 and 9'. which cause or allow the jacks to rise and permit the needles 33 to be shifted from the front to the rear needle bed plates 2S and I9, respectively, vor vice versa, for changing the character of the stitch. Figs. 15, 16 and 17 show the jack transfer operation as performed by the lock mechanism of the carriage 5B. The shifting of the needles from one needle bed plate to'another for this purpose is controlled by the auxiliary jacks 36. 'Ihe jacks 36, when in their normal or inactive position, are disposed in the rear-most portions of the grooves therefor in the rear needle beds I9, thebutt 4I being passed by the rear portions SEI and'IiIZ of the needle transfer cams |03 and IEM.

The auxiliary jacks 35 are shifted to the active position thereof by the contact of the rear tip Ict with a clip ISG (Fig. 3) secured to the hexagonal jacquard drum lili or to a chain lilla.

The jacquard drum It? is a well-known type having openings, into which the tips IE5 may pass,y and when it is desired to advance an auxiliary jack to an active position thereof, the particular opening Vis blocked by a clip li. Where it is desired to expand the range of jacquard design control, a relatively long endless chain ibid, having a corresponding function (aligned openings and clips) may be driven by the polygonal drum.

The jacquard drum Il may be mounted upon a shaft III which is engaged in the slotted upper ends of a plurality of radial arms H2 which are swingably mounted on a longitudinal shaft (not shown). The shaft IiI slidably rests upon the supports 99.

When the jacquard drum Iii'I advances the auxiliary jack a relatively slight amount, the butt il thereon becomes engaged by lthe portion IiiS of the cam IBB as seen in Figs. l0 and l5. r.this butt 4I then has the effect of displacing the butt lili (Fig. and the forward edge ille contacts the rear edge II of the rear jack so as to advance said jack from its normaly course of travel, a distance equal to the distance between the rear edges of the butts et and 4l. The cam l advances the jack SII. The rear jack 35 is advanced by the cam I8 and the downward projection I I4 rides up over and is engaged by the rear hook 'I2 of the needle 33 as seen in Fig. 16. The

. slot 95 in the cam 8l permits the jack to rise.

The cam 'I'i maintains the jack 34 in position. In Fig. 17, the jack 31S is permitted to rise by the slot Sli in the cam 8i to release the needle for its rearward travel. The cam surface 8S engages the butt 39 to move the jack 35 to thel rear. Y Subsequently, the cam IM clears out theauxiiiary jack. A passage 'l5 provided by the cam 8f! guides the butts 3s of the jack 35.

The jacks may be frictionally retained with-Y in the grooves of the lbeds by laterally extending springs at the sides thereof (not shown) as is well known in the art 'to which the present ine vention relates. The jacks rest'in these grooves under gravity. When a jack is shifted longitudinally any tendency of the jack to rise is pre'- 6 vented by the shoulders on the jack which en gage the under surfaces of the various cams which act upon the butts as followers. These jack shoulders are designated 3W to SI5 and ap.- pear in Figs. 11 to 17. One of the slots ed to Sl permit a jack to rise at an appropriate time.

By the described construction, independent needle latch openers which ov'erlie the forward portions Se of the jacks 3E or the corresponding inner ends of the jacks 344 are eliminated. Since the jacks are thus supported against vertical movement in the area of the butts, the portions of the jacks which engage the needles may ex slightly upwardly, with a substantial'reduction in damage to needles caused by jacks striking the needles.

As stated above, the cams lll, TI, Il and III are set at different levels in accordance with the y invention to serve as switching cams which cooperate in a special way with long and short butts on the jacks positioned in the needle beds. In the illustrative examples of Figs. 18 and 18a, the action of the cam 'lli on a jack such as the jack 34 long butts is shown in contrast with the action on the jack 34a with the long and short ybutts of this invention. In order that operation may be secured in accordance with the arrangement of Fig. 18a, a special jack 34a is provided with a short butt 3 I 8 and a longer butt 3I9. The longer butt may be the same length as the butts on the jacks 3d and 35 heretofore described. Figs. 19 and i9@ show the next successive operation as the carriage is moved downwardly as viewed in Fig. 10. In Fig. 19a, the jaclrsa cooperate with the cams II and I'II, and each jack is provided with butts 320 and 32I. The inwardly extending portions of the jacks 34a and 35a may be of any configuration to cooperate with a desired needle. In the illustrative examples the jaclrs Sila and 35a. are shown as being similar to the jacks 34 and 35.

In Fig. 18 which is the section taken on the plane IEi-i of Fig. 10, the butt 3l of the jack is shownas being incontact with the leading cam face of the cam lli, so that the jack Sli will be propelled to the advanced position. In Fig. 18 with the cam *It in its intermediate position the .butt 3l will cause movement of the jack..

As the carriage lll progresses to the point I9 aI jack 35 with butts 39 and ll as described heretofore will be moved as described` above in connection with Figs. l1 to 14. In Fig. 19a` there is shown a jack 35a with a long butt 32! and a short butt 32e. This jack 35a will be moved in a different manner from the jack 35 of Fig. 19 inasmuch as the short butt 32d will not be contacted by the `cam 'Il in its intermediate position. If the cam ll is in its lower-most position as shown by Fig.

6, for example, the short butt will cooperate with the cam lI for movement of the jack. Varying combinations of long or short butt jacks may be employed in accordance with the invention to obtain variations in the stitches produced. v,

The operating mechanism for the gate cams lI and I'II is shown in detail on Fig. 4 of the drawings. Further details of the particular portion of the rod |2511. which operates the gate or switch cam 1| is shown by Figs. 5 to 9. The cams 'il and |1| are on the rear cam plate of the carriage and are operated by the previously mentioned bar 225e. VThe cams 16 and |13 are operated by the bar |25. the machine cooperate with the bars |25 and |25@ to select their positions.

The mechanism for moving the cams li and lli will now be described in detail. It is to be noted that the mechanism for operating the cams iii and |19 is similar and operates in a similar manner. The bar |2505 is provided with a plurality of notches 323 and 324. These notches are engaged by pawls or detents 325 and 326 which are biased toward each other by springs 321. In thc position illustrated by Fig. 4i, the cam 1| is in its lower-most position as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. To permit the cam 1| to occupy the lower-most position, the bar |25@ has sloping cam surfaces 328 and 329 which permit the cam follower 339 to move to its loweremost position under action of a hat spring 33|. The cam 1| is carried by an arm 332 which is pivoted at 333 on a block 334. An elongated recess 335 provides for the intermediate position of the cam which is shown by Figs. 8 and 9. As previously stated, the bar 25@ is movable to ve positions. In the position illustrated by Fig. e the cam l is in its lower-most position and the cam |1| is raised. This comes about by reason of the follower 333, which controis the cam being elevated by the sloping surface leading to the recess so that it is seated on top of the bar. downwardly as viewed in Fig. l of the drawings the cam 1| will be raised to its intermediate position and the cam |1| will remain in its fully raised position. When the bar is moved upwardly as viewed in Fig. 4 to the limit of its movement then the cam |1| will be in its intermediate position and the cam 1| will be raised. From the description just given the relative positions of the cams 1| and Vil will be apparent when the pawl 32S for example, cooperates with the different notches 32d.

In the third notch from the top of Fig. 4 both of the cams are up. In the fourth notch from the top of Fig. @l the cam |1| is down to its lower most position and cam 1| is raised. In the fth notch with the bar moved upwardly as far as it will go, cam lli is in its intermediate position and cam 1| is raised. l

The bars |25 and |2541 have stepped ends. These ends are similar as shown in Fig. 2 taken in con= junction with Fig. 4. The end of the bar |25 which is depicted by Fig. 4 will be described, it being understood that this description applies to both ends of the bars |25 and |25a. The end of the bar |25 is provided with exposed surfaces, which are designated by reference characters 333, 331, and 338 for abutting a stop (not shown). In the position of the bar |25 shown in Fig. 4, the abutting surface 331 at the upper end of the bar has been contacted by its stop, placing the pawl 326 in cooperation with the second notch from the top. The same is true of the bar |25a. The middle notch of ve notches would be selected by abutting surfaces 338.

The stitch size cams 9| and 92 are substantially identical in construction and operation, and are When the bar |25@ is moved Movable abutments on each end of l shifted in position by adjustable fingers such as have associated therewith' suitable indicating means |28 to show the relative position of the cam 9| in its retracted positions. The ngers |24. |25a and |26 are adjustablysecured to a bar |22 by means'of the screws,which penetrate slots in said lingers and threadedly engage said bar. Both ends of the bar |29 are provided with stepped faces |30 and |3|. Lying directly below the bar |29 is another bar |32, having the stepped faces |33 and |34. The bars |32 and |29 are interconnected by a known rack and pinion device |35, so that any one of the three fingers, |24, |25a or |26 may be selectively engaged with the follower |21 by means of the dog |35 (Fig. i) which is movably mounted with respect to the frame 29 for movement forwardly or rearwardly of the machine, but is xed longitudinally. The dog |36` is seen at the right end of Fig. l. The bars |32 and |29 are slidably mounted in the guides |31 and |38 which are secured to the top surface of the plate 51. A similar structure is utilized to shift the stitch cam 92 and includes the bars 229 and 232 in the guides 231 and 238, and fingers (only one, 225, of which is seen). The stepped faces 230, 23|, 233 and 234 co-act with the dog- 236 (Fig. l), while the bars 223 and 232 are oppositely moved by the rack and pinion device 235.

The dogs or abutments |35 and 233 are pivotally mounted on the frame and are adapted to be partially rotated in a stepped manner by linkage mechanism under the control of chains equipped with lugs in a known manner.

The yarn carrier changing structure, indicated generally by reference character 56, is seen in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. This arrangement is similar to that shown in United States Patent No. 2,139,790 granted on December 13, 1943, to Michael Zimio, but feeds only a single strand. The structure 5E is mounted upon the carriage 5@ and operates on the yarn carriers which are slidably mounted on dovetailed bars |6I, |62, |33, and |94. The dovetailed bars are secured to a support or supports |61 mounted on pedestals |11, suitably secured to a stationary part of the machine.

Each of the dovetailed bars 6|| 64 has a yarn guide slidably mounted thereon, as stated above, so that in Fig. 2 there is shown the guides |88, |89, and ISI. A view of the guide |93 is seen in Fig. 3 and it comprises an offset bracket 209, a connector 222, and a yarn tube 233. The particular yarn (not shown) may be supplied from any well known rack (not shown). Each of the other yarn guides is of substantially the same construction as the guide |99, the brackets varying 1n size and angularity to place the yarn over the open needle hooks during the knitting process.

rlhus the knitting unit may be served with four diierent threads or yarns which may vary incharacter as desired. The yarn selected by the control is laid into the open needle hooks of the needles 33 by the yarn tube, such as the tube 293 being moved along the knitting area between the front and rear needle beds. The brushes 88 and 39 keep the latches open and prevent the yarn from coming out of the hooks.

The particular yarn carrier bar being activated is moved along by reason of its engagement with the carriage 5D. This is accomplished by a series of four pins 203, 231, 208 and 239. The pins are vertically reciprocatable and have inactive upper positions and active lower positions. Each of the said pins 236 to 209 has a slidably and resiliently mounted lower terminal. See Fig. 3 in which the terminal 2|| in the form of va sleeve, is slidably mounted on the lower end of a pin 298. A spring 2 I3 urges the terminal 2 I I toits lower-most position. The terminal 2li is provided with a slot 2 l5 in which the projection 2 I 6 from the pin 299 rides. This slot and projection limits the upper and lowerv travel of the terminal 2li with respect to the pin 293. The terminals of the pins 299 to 299 areeach-provided with a linger 2 i9 to coact with means 2I2 on the yarn carriers or guides which slide on the bars ISE to IBIS. A linger 2id and a block 2l9a serve to aid in picking up and releasing the yarn carriers.

I The yarn vcontrol or selector dacts to lower the desired pin of the pins 299,V 29?, 299v and 2,99

Each of these pins has (in addition to the movable terminals, corresponding to the terminals 2l I) a head 296, 291, 299 and 249, an expansive coil spring 259, 25|, 252, and 259, anda laterally extending -pintle 299, 295,259 and 257 respectively. The shanks of the pins296 to 299 are vertically reciprocable in cylindrical bores in the 'block 259 and there are slots laterally extending of the structure just described, the downward movement of any one of the pins 295 to 299 causes its respectivepintle 25d to 251 to engage one of the cam surfaces 29d in turn shifting the latch plate 259 rearwardly. This releases anyV previously engaged pintle from a notch 295. As'the pintlebeing lowered travels farther downwardly, .y

it in turn becomes engagedbya notch 259, as

the latch plate 259 is urged forward with a snap? action.l

rlhe pins 209 to 299 are pressed to the lower or active position thereof bythe long levers 256 to 269, inclusive, respectively, which engage the pintles on said pins. Y

All of the levers 266 to 299 are pivotally mounted on the axis 219. The outer or rear ends of the levers 269 to 299 are adapted to be selectively elevated by a plurality of vertically reciprocable rods 2'l-I to 274, inclusive, said rods being mounted within pairs of aligned openings in the U-shaped support 275. Suitable projections in the upper portions of the rods 'prevent them from dropping down excessively when they are not engaged by the cam 2l9. 2id is secured to the rear vertical surface of the bridge 55. The cam 2li is similar to the cam 216 just noted, cam 2li being seenin Fig. 1. Cams 256 and 2li have rearwardly directed racks 28 and 279, respectively, which engage a pair of gear trains, only one of which, the train 289 is seen, in Fig. 3, and ,these gear trains are actuated by the shaft'28l.

The right end 282 (see Fig. l) of the shaft 2B! has'a crank 292 which is pivotally connected by the link 284 to the crank 235, which is fixed upon countershaft 289. Another crank 282 is xed on the countershaft 288. These cranks connect with levers which are actuated by a chain control (not shown). This mechanism is not part of the present invention and, therefore, it is not shown in detail. Its function is to provide that actuation of its mechanism results in the simul- The U-shaped supportv l taneous shifting in position of the cams Zit and 2l?, so that they engage the desired rods 21| to 271i. These in turn shift the levers 296 to 269 to .lower the desired pins 296 to 2,99, thereby selecting desired yarn carriers I88 to I9I.

The carriage y5i) has pivotally connected thereto, at the rear of said carriage a yoke 29| which is detachably engageable with the slider 292. This connection, which is provided with a ball handle 392 may be such that upon overload the same will automatically disengage and preferrto the active or yarn feeding position thereof. V

. of cam surfaces 299 and notches 295. By virtue ably simultaneously break the circuit to the vsource of power for the machine. 29,2 is slidably engaged upon the-'track 293' which is fixed to the frame of the machine and may be journalled a pair of sprockets 295 Vand 299. An f annular sprocket chain 291 is carried by the sprockets 295 and 299, and said chain has a for- I Wardly extending pin 298 which is vertically recprocablerwithin a vertically arranged slot 299 in the block 999, the latter being fixed to the slider 292. The sprocket 296 is fixed to a shaft (not shown) which carries the gear `CillI, and this gear may be driven by any suitable source of power, Yin time correlation to the yarn selecting, jacquard needle shifting, and bed shifting mechanisms in a well known manner.

What is claimed is:

l. In a knitting machine, a needle bed, a needle movably disposed on saidl bed, a jack having a pair of spaced butts of different length projecting therefrom, said jack being movably supported by the bed and having means for shifting said needle, a carriage movable along said bed, said carriage having cam surfaces and an independently movable gate cam, adapted in .an active position thereof to engage one of said butts and in an inactive position thereof to clear said butt, said gate cam'being positioned in the line of motion of said cam surfaces, whereby when the gate cam is in the inactive position thereof said cam surfaces may pass between said butts, thejack remaining stationary. f

2. In a knitting machine, a needle bed, a needle movably disposed on said bed, a jack having a pair of spaced butts of different length projecting therefrom, said jack being movably supported by the bed and having means for shifting said needle, a carriage movable along said bed, said carriage having cam surfaces and an independently movable gate cam, adapted in an active position thereof to engage one of said butts and in an inactive position thereof to clear said butt, said gate cam having an intermediate position, said gate cam being positioned in the line of motion of said cam surfaces, whereby When the gate cam is in the inactive position thereof said cam surfaces may pass between said butts, the jack remaining stationary.

3. In a knitting machine, a needle bed, a needle movably disposed on said bed, a jack having a pair of spaced butts of different heights projecting therefrom, said jack being slidably supported by the bed and adapted to shift said needlein posion, a carriage movable along said bed, said carriage having first and second groups of cam surfaces adapted to cause the needle to move in a direction toward making a stitch when the carriage is going in first and second directions, respectively, first and second gate cams on said carriage adapted in their active positions to guide the jack into knitting positions and in The slider their inactive positions to 'clear the jack, said gate pains being positioned in the line of motion of said groups of cam surfaces, whereby when the nrst gate cam is active and the carriage is moving in a rst direction itguides the jack toengag'e the outer edges of the pair of butts 'with the yrst group of cam surfaces 'and the inner edges of the butts to engage the second group of cam surfaces, and When the -s'ee'ond gate cam Vis active and the carriage is moving in a sec# ond opposite direction it guides the jack toenL gage the odter edges of the pair ofbutts with the Ysecond group of an surfaces and the inner edges of the bitt's to engage the first group of cam surfaces. f

4. In a knitting machine, a needle bed, a need-le movably disposed on said bed, a jack havinga pair of spaoed butts of diiferent heights projectingtherefroin, said jack being slidably supported by the bed vand adapted to shift said needle in position, Aa carriage movable valong said bed, vsaid carriage having first and ysecond. groups of cam surfaces adapted to cause k'the needle to move in 'a direction toward making a stitch when the carriage-is going in rst and second direc'- i tions, respectively, first and second -g'ate cams on said carriage `vadapted in their lactive positions to guide the jack into knitting positions and in their fina'etive positions to clear the jack, said gate cams being positioned in the line of motion of said groups of cam surfaces whereby when the iirst gate cam is active and the carriage is .moving a rst direction it guides the jack to vengage the outer edges of the pair of butts with the first group of cam surfaces a-nd the inner edges of the butts to engage the second group of lcam surfaces, yand vvhen the second gate cam is active and the carriage is v'mov-ing in a vsecond opposite direction it guides the jack to engage the outer edges of the pair 'of butts with the second `group of camsurfaces and the inner edges of the butts to engage the Yfirst group of cam surfaces, and an intermediate position for said gate cams whereby only the longer of said butts is engaged.

5. In a knitting machine, "spaced front and rear needle beds, the knitting area being disposed substantially between said front and lrear beds, a front jack normally slidably disposed in a front bed, 4'a rear jack normally slidably disposed in a rear bed, a needle shiftable between said front and rear beds, an auxiliary jack slidably Vdisposed in Ythe rear bed rearwardly of the rear jack and adapted to Vcontact the rear rjack and move the rear jack forwardly to cause the rear jack vto engage the needle and to shift the needle betweenthe front 'and rear beds, one of said jacks having butts Vof different lengths.

6. -In a knitting machine, spaced front and rear needle beds, the knitting area being disposed substantially between said front and rear beds, a front jack normally slidably disposed in the front bed, said front jack having long and short butts, a rear jack having a butt and normally slidably disposed in the vrear bed, a needle shiftable between said front and rear beds, an auxiliary jack having Va butt and slidably disposed in the rear bed rearwardly of the rear jack, a movable carriage having cam surfaces adapted to engage the butt on the rear jack to move 12 the rear -jack forwardlyin the direction of the knitting area for a knitting movement, a needle transfer cam, and means to move the auxi'lia'rir jack forwardly a distance sufficient so that the front end of the auxiliary jack may engage the rear end of the rear jack, and the butt on the auxiliary jack may be acted upon by the needle transfer cam. Y

7. In a knitting machine, a needle bed with a jack andneedle groove, a needle, a jack in said groove and adapted for detachable engage'- ment with said needle,fsai'd jack having a raised shoulder and butts of different length projeoting from said shoulder, a vcarriz'uge movable over said bed and having cams with Yedge `cam surfaces and relatively plana-r bottom surfaees, said 'edge cam surface 'engaging vthe vertical edges of 'said butts to shift them along as said 'carriage is moved, and said relatively planar surfaces 'of the cams engaging the upper surfaces of the `shoill'de'r to maintain said jack in said groove.

4il. A lock mechanism for the needle bed traversing V'carriage of a knitting machine comprising, a pair 'of 'cams which selectively serve to direct the butts of needle jacks along different courses through the lock mechanism in 'accorde ance with 'the position of Said cams, means for selectively moving said cams Acomprising la mov.- able bar, 'a follower for each lof said cams, said bar having portions of different thickness upon which said follower rests whereby to provide for different cani positions as vsaid bar is moved, said bar having at leas-t one end thereof 'presenting the configuration of steps `'whereby said bar is movable to different positions upon engagement of stop means Vselectively with said steps.

9. YIn a lock Vinec'liai'iisnfi for the needie bed traversing carriage of a knitting machine, la gate cam, means for supporting said cam for irro'in'en ment perpendicularly lwith respect to said lock mechanism, a' follower member on said 'gate cam, a bar, means to support said bar Yfor movement longitudinally of said carriage, said barfhavi'n'g a notch therein to accommodate said follower whereby said gate earn is Aat yone extreme range of movement, a recess yin said :bar to accommodate said follower wherebyY said namV is lin an intermediate position, said follower riding up on said bar to provide the s'eoond extreme position of said earn.

MQHAELJMQ... VANTON MISKOVSKY.

References 1Cited in the le of this 'patent UNITED STATES PAENTS 

